18/07/2008

Teens Leave School Without Sat Results

Thousands of children will be finishing school today without their Standard Assessment Test (Sat) test results.

The American company, Educational Testing Services (ETS), responsible for the marking of the tests, has been accused of serial incompetence.

There are reports of schools being sent back unmarked papers, some of which remain unopened.

The Government is facing increased pressure to scrap the contract with ETS Europe before next year's exams.

Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "ETS have forfeited the right to run future SATs tests. Every day brings new evidence of their serial incompetence.

"Ministers must act now to ensure next year's exams are run properly. That means guaranteeing that a proper team to supervise the process is in place as soon as possible."

Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the situation was "unacceptable".

(CD/JM)

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